Confirmed news

Zhuang Shen had considerable seniority in the Guard Hall. Many people knew him, and some had even received his help.

His words now effectively vouched for Lu Mian, and no one questioned the truth of the matter anymore.

Besides, Evil-Sensing Talismans had always been used this way, and there had never been a problem.

"Can I collect my money now?"

Lu Mian spoke up abruptly.

He did not want to attract so much attention either, but he could not break the Guard Hall's rules. Otherwise, he would not even be able to collect his money, and all his hard work over the past several days would have been wasted.

"Of course."

"Here are banknotes worth six thousand three hundred taels."

The Treasury Steward hurriedly counted out the banknotes for Lu Mian.

If anything came to light later, that could be dealt with later.

For now, without solid evidence, he had no choice but to pay out the money.

Lu Mian took the banknotes and left without looking back.

"Old Zhuang, just who is this Corpse Collector?"

"Exactly... if you hadn't vouched for him, I wouldn't have believed he could kill so many Evil Spirits and Weird Beings by himself, no matter what."

Several captains immediately approached Zhuang Shen to question him.

"All I'll say is that I stand by my words."

"I'm tired. I'm going back to rest."

With that, Zhuang Shen led his team out of the treasury.

"Everyone, disperse."

Huang Shi spoke up as well.

Everyone was truly exhausted by this point. They had no energy left for gossip and each left the treasury.

But the news gradually spread through the Guard Hall, causing an uproar.

Mainly, Lu Mian's results were simply too outrageous to believe.

In the Guard Hall's main hall.

Hall Master Fan Qiang and Shen Ruiwen sat across from each other, drinking tea.

"Commander Shen."

"The Falcon Guard certainly keeps producing talented people."

"This Corpse Collector, Lu Mian, killed sixty-three Evil Spirits and Weird Beings all by himself. It's astounding."

Fan Qiang raised his teacup with a chuckle.

When Shen Ruiwen had been summoned, he had already guessed what it was about.

He shook his head with a wry smile. "I heard the news too... at first, I thought my subordinates were fooling me. I never expected it to be true."

"But rest assured, Hall Master Fan. Lu Mian really does have talent."

"He placed in the top ten in the Guard Hall's assessment, and he worked his way up from the Dust-Returning Courtyard."

"The number may seem exaggerated, but I believe he wouldn't falsify his results."

Fan Qiang nodded slightly at Shen Ruiwen's words. "I've also looked through some information on Lu Mian. He certainly has potential."

"Since his performance was so outstanding this time, I intend to reward him with another ten Qi-Nourishing Pills to make the Guard Hall's position clear."

"That should also put the arguments outside to rest."

Fan Qiang drank his tea and spoke calmly.

"Thank you on Lu Mian's behalf, Hall Master Fan!" Shen Ruiwen had thought he would have to spend some time persuading Fan Qiang. He had not expected the man to believe him so readily.

"I have something else to attend to."

"You can get back to your duties."

Fan Qiang smiled.

Shen Ruiwen took the hint, rose, and left.

"Thank you for your help, Hall Master Fan."

A young man dressed in blue stepped out.

"Think nothing of it."

"But why would your Eldest Young Master help a Corpse Collector?"

Fan Qiang asked in puzzlement.

"The young master said... he admires him."

The young man answered.

"I see..."

"It seems Lu Mian really is talented, to have caught the Xu Family's eye."

Fan Qiang smiled faintly.

Although the great clans were highly insular, whenever an exceptionally gifted talent emerged, they would do everything they could to recruit and support them, even using marriage alliances.

This was also why the great clans could continually grow stronger.

Fan Qiang naturally assumed that Xu Yi had noticed Lu Mian's talent while in Flying Cloud County Seat, which was why he had specifically sent someone to put in a word with him.

"That isn't something I would know."

"I'm merely an errand runner."

The young man shook his head.

Lu Mian had no idea what had happened after he left the Guard Hall.

He had killed all those Evil Spirits and Weird Beings himself, so his conscience was clear.

After this, staying unnoticed in the Guard Hall is going to be difficult.

Forget it. Why worry about all that?

At least I earned over six thousand taels of silver this time.

Lu Mian could not be bothered with what others thought.

He first returned to his room and had a good sleep.

Just as he woke, someone came knocking at his door.

Lu Mian opened the door and said in surprise, "Commander Shen, what brings you here in person?"

He hurriedly invited Shen Ruiwen to sit at the stone table in the courtyard.

"You've become quite the celebrity in the Guard Hall this time."

Shen Ruiwen spoke with a chuckle.

"You're joking, Commander Shen."

"That isn't necessarily a good thing for me."

"I imagine plenty of people are questioning my results."

Lu Mian shook his head.

"Nothing but idle gossip from fools."

"These ten Qi-Nourishing Pills are a special reward from the Guard Hall."

Shen Ruiwen took out a medicine box.

"This..."

Lu Mian was somewhat surprised.

"Hall Master Fan specifically awarded these to you to put that idle gossip to rest."

Shen Ruiwen explained.

"Hall Master Fan..."

Lu Mian's eyes flickered.

He had no personal connection whatsoever with Hall Master Fan.

For the man to help him like this... someone must have influenced him.

Of all the people he knew, Xu Yi was probably the only one who could influence Hall Master Fan.

Whether that was the case would become clear the next time he saw him.

"I'm sure Hall Master Fan's trust in me was also thanks to you speaking on my behalf, Commander Shen."

Lu Mian instead gave Shen Ruiwen the credit.

"It was nothing. Your own strength was what mattered most."

Shen Ruiwen shook his head, then asked solemnly, "Lu Mian, you've already reached blood-qi perfection, haven't you?"

To kill so many Weird Beings and Evil Spirits, he would have needed to reach blood-qi perfection at the very least.

Lu Mian nodded in acknowledgment. "When I was in Flying Cloud County Seat, I encountered a Fierce Spirit. At that moment of life and death, I reached blood-qi perfection and only narrowly managed to escape from it."

Breaking through in a life-or-death situation had happened throughout history, but it was still exceedingly rare.

Most people confronted with death felt nothing but fear and terror.

Only a tiny few could withstand that pressure and achieve a breakthrough!

Shen Ruiwen believed Lu Mian's explanation and nodded. "Do you remember what I mentioned to you last time?"

"I have confirmed news now. In two months, the Demon Extermination Palace will recruit another disciple."

"If you can advance to the first realm: qi accumulation within two months, you might have a chance to compete for the spot."

The news truly made Lu Mian's eyes light up.

Joining the Demon Extermination Palace meant becoming an outer disciple of the Sunflame Sect.

That status was what mattered most.

For Lu Mian, who had started out as a refugee, it would undoubtedly be like a carp leaping the Dragon Gate.

"Thank you for telling me, Commander Shen. I'll work hard."

Lu Mian thanked him sincerely.

"Don't celebrate too soon."

"You should know that advancing through cultivation realms is hardly easy."

"I spent nearly ten years tempering my blood-qi before I finally nurtured my own mystic qi."

"Unfortunately, I was too old to become an outer disciple of the Sunflame Sect."

Shen Ruiwen sighed softly.

This was indeed a lingering regret of his.

After all, reaching the first realm: qi accumulation did not automatically make someone an outer disciple.

Only those who reached the first realm: qi accumulation before the age of thirty could become outer disciples of the Sunflame Sect.